Promise!

Chapter 108, Wrist

Yue Song led Zhuang Jin to the inner courtyard, where they met Zou Qingfeng, Zou's attendant, and explained their purpose.

"I would like to help with this, but I am truly powerless to do so..." Zou Qingfeng declined, not wanting to get involved.

He had heard of Zhuang Jin's name before. Among the martial arts students recruited by the Shen family, he was the second to break through the fourth meridian and the first to break through the fifth and sixth meridians. He didn't expect him to break through the seventh meridian so quickly... With such potential and the influence of Yue Song, he would have helped with a small matter, but this matter was too big and involved another person with the seventh meridian. He really didn't want to get involved in this mess.

Ultimately, Zou Qingfeng wasn't like Yue Song, who had a certain understanding of Zhuang Jin, had dealt with him quite a bit, and was able to 'overdraw credit' at crucial moments and repay it in the future... His relationship with this Zou Changsui wasn't at that level.

Zhuang Jin naturally understood and had anticipated this, so he took out the beast treasure.

"What?! A beast treasure from a beast at the Perfected Skin-Polishing level?!"

After his initial shock, Zou Qingfeng's eyes lit up with excitement: "If this stuff is refined into the Meridian-Clearing Pill, it will enhance the medicinal effects and probably even be effective for bottlenecks in the Sixth to Seventh Meridians!"

The more one understands the Six Classics, the more one knows the value of this thing; it is half a ticket to the Seven Classics. Miao Lun was willing to be ruthless towards Zhuang Jin for it, which shows how attractive it is.

In fact, even a 'Meridian-Clearing Pill' refined with beast treasures and enhanced into an even better version can't compare to the Meridian-Clearing Elixir, but...

Even though he was a close attendant of the Eighth Prince Shen Xuchen, it was still difficult to obtain a single Shuluo Pill. Otherwise, he wouldn't be stuck at the Sixth Meridian now, but right now, there was an opportunity to reach the Seventh Meridian.

After Zhuang Jin took out the beast treasure, Zou Qingfeng's attitude changed immediately: "On the other hand, since Director Yue and Town Guard Zhuang have come to us, they must think highly of me, Zou. Even if we are powerless, we still have to think of a way, right?"

The reason I refused before wasn't because I was afraid of Miao Shao, but because there were no benefits and the risks and rewards were disproportionate. Now the situation is different. With enough benefits, I'm not afraid to get involved in this kind of thing.

“Now that I have reached the seventh level of enlightenment, I have no need for this. As for what I said before…” Zhuang Jin didn’t finish his sentence, but Zou Qingfeng understood what he meant.

Yue Song chimed in at the opportune moment: "Zou Changsui obtained the Meridian-Clearing Pill with the added Beast Treasure and broke through to the Seventh Meridian; Zhuang Zhenshou cleared the case and became the Eighth Prince's personal guard... This is truly a win-win situation, a happy ending for everyone!"

After deciding to bet on Zhuang Jin, he subconsciously regarded Zhuang Jin as one with him. He was truly doing his best for Zhuang Jin and striving for the opportunity to become the Eighth Prince's personal guard!
—After each young master breaks through the seventh level of cultivation, he will have two personal guard positions. Once he becomes a young master's personal guard, he will not only be safe in the Shen family headquarters, but will also receive preferential treatment in resources... This is indeed a great thing for a guard.

'So there was also a competition to select bodyguards. I knew it! If it were just that case, a small matter with a large bribe would only make people uneasy!'

Zou Qingfeng understood Zhuang Jin's request and breathed a sigh of relief. However, there were some things he wasn't sure he could do. After considering it for a moment, he said, "How about this, if I can get the Eighth Young Master to intervene and ensure that the case against Commander Zhuang is handled fairly and the matter is settled, then the 'Strengthening Meridian-Clearing Pill' that the beast treasure handed over can be given to me. I will pay for it at a premium based on the ratio of silver to battle merits... If I do my best to arrange for Commander Zhuang to become the Eighth Young Master's personal guard, then the silver will be no problem... What does Commander Zhuang think?"

Everything is clear and transparent: what things are included, what the price is; what level of achievement is required, what you get in return, and how much you get...

He had seen too many good things end badly, or even turn into bitter enmity, because things weren't explained clearly beforehand... That's why he said those things beforehand, so that Zhuang Jin would be aware of the situation. In this way, the person handling the matter would understand, and the person receiving the gift would feel at ease. This was the best-case scenario.

'How many intelligent people there are in the world!'

Zhuang Jin was quite impressed by this proactive approach that nipped potential problems in the bud. He also appreciated the clear and transparent way of explaining how much work to do and how much to charge beforehand. He readily agreed, "I'll do whatever Zou Changsui says!"

"Haha, good, don't worry, Commander Zhuang, I will do my best to handle this matter."

……

Inside the inner courtyard, in a spacious pavilion.

A handsome young man with a full forehead and eyes like black lacquer, dressed in a moon-white brocade robe with a ring-shaped jade pendant hanging from his waist, was sitting by the window, flipping through some documents.

This was none other than the Eighth Prince, Shen Xuchen, who was reviewing materials to make a preliminary selection of bodyguards.

Just as Shen Xuchen frowned slightly and put down another person's information, Zou Qingfeng, who had been waiting, finally spoke up: "Young Master, this old servant heard an interesting story today. I heard that in our Shen family's recruitment of martial arts students, some have actually broken through to the Seventh Scripture Realm!"

This was clearly intended to pique the interest of his young master, so that Zhuang Jin's two matters—settling the Miao Lun case and securing personal guards—could be handled together. "Last September, the first martial arts student recruitment took place. In just over a year, they've already broken through the Seven Classics... The great waves have washed away the sand, and indeed, some gems have been hidden in the vast ocean." Shen Xuchen became somewhat interested and sighed.

“Who says otherwise? This man is named Zhuang Jin, recruited in the third martial arts competition… Compared to him, this old servant at my age has simply wasted his life!” Zou Qingfeng directly used himself to put others down, truly going to great lengths to facilitate this good deed.

"Oh, the third one?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Xuchen exclaimed in surprise, "Doesn't that mean that he has broken through to the seventh level of the Seven Classics in just one year? This talent is probably among the best even among the most outstanding!"

Upon seeing this, Zou Qingfeng immediately handed over Zhuang Jin's file, which he had prepared and transferred long ago.

Shen Xuchen took it, glanced through it quickly, and was amazed inwardly, but showed no sign on his face. He put it down and looked at Zou Qingfeng: "How did this person manage to get to you?"

Zou Qingfeng dared not hide anything and told the truth about Yue Song bringing Zhuang Jin to visit him and the case involving Miao Lun that he had asked for help with.

This was also his little scheme: firstly, by making it public, he would avoid future troubles and demonstrate his loyalty; secondly, as a backup plan, if he really succeeded in doing things for Zhuang Jin and Zhuang Jin tried to take advantage of him or renege on his promise, then he would be caught in his own trap.

Shen Xuchen didn't speak, but looked into Zou Qingfeng's eyes as if he could see right through him.

Breathe!
Three breaths!

Ten breaths!

"This old servant...this old servant acted on his own initiative and deserves to die..." In the silence, the gaze seemed to exert invisible pressure, causing cold sweat to seep from Zou Qingfeng's forehead. Finally, he knelt down with a thud and kowtowed repeatedly.

Shen Xuchen waited until Zou Qingfeng's head was red from kowtowing, even stained with blood, before he stopped Zou Qingfeng and personally helped him up. Holding his wrist, he said, "Uncle Zou, you've been with me for many years. You know I'm not someone who can't tolerate injustice. I understand the principle that too much purity leaves no room for fish. But this time... when you saw that beast treasure, you agreed immediately, went to the trouble of guiding it, and placed people around me. What will you do if someone offers you even greater benefits in the future? Will you betray me?"

Upon hearing this, Zou Qingfeng was so frightened that he knelt down again: "This old servant is one with the young master, and would never dare to do anything to harm the young master. This time, I was thinking that Zhuang Jin is indeed promising and a talented person... that's why I was blinded and acted on my own... Young master, I will go and refuse him right away..."

Indeed, given his usual shrewdness, he would never have agreed so readily. This time... he had been stuck at the bottleneck of the Six Classics for too long, and having finally seen a glimmer of hope, he became overly attached to it and became obsessed with it, which led him to do something foolish.

"It's good that you know you're wrong and have learned your lesson. There's no need for that... If you hadn't agreed directly, but had asked me first, or hadn't tried to trick me, but just told me directly, why would I be angry? Fine, I'll give you some face. I'll accept the case and go later. Consider Zhuang Jin's reward as a bonus for discovering talent."

"Thank you so much, young master!" Zou Qingfeng was moved to tears and completely convinced.

Seeing this, Shen Xuchen nodded slightly—Zou Qingfeng acted on his own initiative and thought he was clever, making the other party kowtow until his head bled, which was to teach the other party a lesson; discovering talent also meant rewards... In this way, the balance between restraint and kindness was maintained, and the art of managing people was fully demonstrated.

He was familiar with the procedures of the Enforcement Division and knew that he still had some time, so he didn't rush to leave. He lowered his head and continued to look through Zhuang Jin's file, sometimes nodding slightly, sometimes pausing and tapping his fingers on the table in thought.

Zou Qingfeng knew his young master's habits very well and knew that this was a sign that he cared. The chances of Zhuang Jin becoming his young master's personal guard had greatly increased, and he secretly thought that Zhuang Jin had hit the jackpot this time.

A moment later, Shen Xuchen put down the file and stood up: "It's been a long time since I've met such an interesting person. Let's go meet Zhuang Jin, and settle the matter you promised to do."

"This old servant is ashamed, thank you young master."

"Ok!"

Shen Xuchen waved his hand, pondered as he left, thinking to himself: 'Firstly, I'll settle the matter Zou Changsui promised; secondly, Zhuang Jin is a talented person, and I'll show him kindness when he's in trouble; and thirdly, who knows, I might also…'

……

(End of this chapter)